A Look at the Rising Alcohol Death Rate
When a person has uncontrolled and problematic drinking, they may have a health condition called alcohol use disorder (AUD). Previously known as alcohol abuse or alcoholism, AUD can vary in severity and cause lasting changes in the brain that make people vulnerable to relapse.
A recent Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) analysis of data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention makes a stunning revelation. The national alcohol death rate has increased by 70% over the past 10 years, accounting for 51,191 deaths in 2022 compared to 27,762 deaths in 2012.
Federal data also indicates that over half of adults say someone in their family has struggled with alcohol use. This makes AUD the most prevalent non-tobacco substance use disorder in the nation. Yet, treatment rates for AUD remain very low, with only 7.6% of people experiencing this health condition receiving the help they need.
Here are some key findings from the KFF analysis:
Alcohol deaths have increased steadily over the past decade, with sharp rises during the pandemic.
Alcohol deaths were highest among people aged 45 to 64, American Indian and Alaska Native people, and males.
Alcohol death rates varied across states, with rural areas having higher death rates and greater growth. Shortages of mental health and substance use treatment professionals contribute to higher death rates.
When including deaths where alcohol was a contributing factor, the number of alcohol-related deaths rises to 105,308 in 2022, exceeding opioid and suicide deaths.
People with AUD are not receiving treatment largely due to lack of provider knowledge, patient attitudes, financial constraints and insufficient treatment infrastructure.
The good news is that no matter how severe the problem may seem, most people with AUD can benefit from treatment with behavioral therapies, medications or both. AUD is diagnosed when a person answers “yes” to two or more of the questions below.
In the past year, have you:
Had times when you ended up drinking more, or longer, than you intended?
More than once wanted to cut down or stop drinking, or tried to, but couldn’t?
Spent a lot of time drinking? Or being sick or getting over the aftereffects?
Experienced craving—a strong need, or urge, to drink?
Found that drinking—or being sick from drinking—often interfered with taking care of your home or family? Or caused job troubles? Or school problems?
Continued to drink even though it was causing trouble with your family or friends?
Given up or cut back on activities that were important or interesting to you, or gave you pleasure, in order to drink?
More than once gotten into situations while or after drinking that increased your chances of getting hurt (such as driving, swimming, using machinery, walking in a dangerous area, or having unsafe sex)?
Continued to drink even though it was making you feel depressed or anxious or adding to another health problem? Or after having had a memory blackout (i.e., forgetting, after drinking, where you were or what you did while drinking)?
Had to drink much more than you once did to get the effect you want? Or found that your usual number of drinks had much less effect than before?
Found that when the effects of alcohol were wearing off, you had withdrawal symptoms, such as trouble sleeping, shakiness, irritability, anxiety, dysphoria, depression, restlessness, nausea, or sweating? Or sensed things that were not there?
Any of these symptoms may be cause for concern. The more symptoms, the more urgent the need for change. A health professional can help set a positive course of action.
Clearly, AUD presents a national public health challenge and requires a multifaceted approach, including increasing awareness, improving access to treatment and addressing barriers to care. Above all, it requires a person with an alcohol problem to be willing to recognize it, seek help and follow a treatment plan.
For practical tips from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism on how to help someone with an alcohol problem, please click here.
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